Dyche: Officials Have To Get Big Decision Right

Sean Dyche felt his side were robbed of a point against Arsenal for the second time this season by a poor decision.

Laurent Koscielny was in an offside position before Ben Mee was adjudged to have made a high challenge on the Gunners defender to concede a dramatic 97th minute penalty that Alexis Sanchez dispatched.

That came after Addre Gray’s injury time penalty looked to have salvaged a point for the Clarets following Shkodran Mustafi’s earlier header opener.

Burnley boss Dyche said: “The fact is it’s harsh on my players because they’ve given everything to try and take something today.

“To have that taken away by a referee’s or linesman’s decision – for the second time this season against this side, don’t forget – is very disappointing.

“At home we had a farce of a last minute and today, my defenders are actually doing what they are meant to do, which is clearing the box to allow the keeper to work and hopefully catch a player offside.

“Their man is offside; forget about the incident that followed. It’s clear, so it has to be given.

“It’s tough to come to places like this and get decisions, but at this level, I expect that one to be given.”

Dyche, whose side are still searching for their first away win of the Premier League campaign – and lost Dean Marney to a knee injury, added: “Arsenal are a fine side, but we want to be brave in our performances and we are improving.

“The mentality is solid now and there’s no fear – I think people saw that today.

“We are still learning, so I was very pleased in that respect. We’ve lost a player today and we’re waiting to find out how serious that one is, so beyond the result it’s a balanced view about respect to the players about what they’ve given today and disappointment because a decision has let you down in the end.

“I don’t want to be crying it in because we’ve had two points taken off us in two games against this opposition.

“Overall, we just want parity with everyone else, but it’s just strange one that it was given today and I think at this level, the officials have to get this one right.

“I don’t think that one was a tough one. I’ve seen it back and he’s quite clearly offside, so that has to be given straight away.”

Dyche added that he was still unsure of the severity of Marney’s knee injury, after the midfielder was stretchered off in the 74th minute after committing a foul on Sanchez.